Kent Conrad, yesterday, said, “Reconciliation cannot be used to pass comprehensive health care reform.” And everyone in the press freaked out.
But Conrad is correct, insofar as the Democrats aren't trying to do that. The Senate passed the full bill with 60 votes. Several amendments/fixes will be passed via reconciliation. Conrad said today:
“Reporters don’t seem to be able to get this straight,” Conrad said, hitting the “misreporting” he said is widespread. “Comprehensive health care reform will not work through reconciliation. But if the House passes the Senate bill, and wants certain things improved on, like affordability, the Medicaid provisions, how much of Medicaid expenses are paid for by the Federal government, that is something that could be done through reconciliation.”
“A sidecar would be a good candidate for reconciliation depending on what’s in it,” Conrad said, adding that he didn’t think fixes to abortion or immigration provions would likely work, something that could create obstacles to passing the Senate bill in the House.
The level of stupid in the press is staggering. And Fox News Channel is flagrantly lying about the process.